The Top 5 Best Songs for Savasana

August 9, 2012

kukhahnyoga Lists, Music Playlists For Yoga, Yoga , 2 Comments

You may have gathered from my last post just how seriously I take my Savasana….and if you did not..well, I do! 

So, with that in mind I put together a short playlist of the best 5 songs you will ever hear in Savasana. Period.

Listen to these songs and try not to get blissed out…

I dare you!

It really is impossible!

So there you have it! Enjoy! Feel free to drop me a line when you reach new heights of enlightenment, or just levitate over to my neck of the woods and tell me in person!

The Top 5 Best Songs For Savasana (click here to listen via Spotify)

1. Waters of Life / Sacral Jonathan Goldman

2. Storm of Prayers Craig Kohland & Shaman’s Dream

3. Puja Krishna Das & Baird Hersey & Prana

4. Om Prana Rara Avis

5. Gopala‘s Dream Jai Uttal

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5 Tips For Having the Best Savasana Ever!

August 8, 2012

kukhahnyoga How To Tips & Tricks, Lists, Yoga , 6 Comments

“Savasana: savasana is being without was, being without will be. It is being without anyone who is.”   
 Light on Life, B.K.S. Iyengar

How to make your next savasana the best five minutes of your life…

You know that excited feeling you get before your first “real date” with you new snookums? Well, I get that feeling when I’m about to take Savasana. Yep, I’m weird. Or maybe, I’m enlightened. Let’s hope it’s the latter.

Either way here are my top five tips for dropping into bliss and having the bestest savasana ever.

1. Don’t know what to do with your feet? No need to stress, this isn’t dancing with the stars and I’m not going to try to teach you the fox trot!

Relax….ahhhhh…

Alright, now just take your feet about as wide as the mat and let them roll out naturally. Here is a tip: Your toes will point out to the sides.

2. Lift your buns and lengthen your tailbone away from your lower back and towards your heels. This is not JUST for those sporting a badonkadonk, but J. Lo if you’re reading this, listen up, because this one is for you girl!

This amazing little adjustment will eliminate any “crunchy” feeling in the lower back. The term “crunchy” is only cute when it’s used to describe peanut butter,…(and even then it’s questionable), try to keep your savasana ”crunch-free!”

3. Pickup your shoulders and move them down away from your ears. Use the “stickiness” of your sticky mat to hold your shoulders down. Much like a fly caught on some sticky fly paper your shoulders will be stuck down there away from your ears and no longer able to bother you. Brilliant! (Don’t get your panties in a bunch over the flypaper analogy, no flys were hurt in the making of this blog post and bunched panties do not a comfortable savasana make.)

 4. Place your hands with your palms facing up about 5-8 inches from your body. The only exception to this rule is if you are right next to someone. Touchingthem. Touching. sweaty. hand. touchingyou. What you’ve just encountered here is the recipe for a potentially awkward savasana. You could bravely leave your hand there. Or for a less awkward savasana and more relaxing experience place your hands on your chest, belly or pretty much anywhere you won’t meet with someone else’s clammy fingers.

5. Relax the skin between your eyebrows. Most of us have jam-packed lives that have us running around  feeling like red bull fueled spider monkeys, but it’s time to make sweet savasana! Power down the noggin’ and smooth the eyebrow wrinkle. THE BIG BOSS wrinkle that looks like the number 11 between your two eyebrows. Imagine the teacher has her thumbs on each of your eyebrows and is pulling them away from one another gently. Aaaahhhh. Feels better already, right?

Now drift away to your happy place. It’s okay if  your “happy place” consists of Johhny Depp bringing you cupcakes for lunch while your boss keeps you cool by fanning you with a palm frond. I won’t judge you. Nobody will. That’s why savasana is so freakin’ awesome! Not to mention I’ve rested better in those five blissful minutes than a full eight hours on my fancy-pants-egyptian cotton sheets!!!

Enjoy.enjoy.pure.bliss.savasana…..

If you enjoyed this article please share the love below :) Thanks!

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“Sweaty Vinyasa” Music For Yoga

August 6, 2012

kukhahnyoga Music Playlists For Yoga , , , Leave a comment

 I took a bit of a break from posting my yoga music playlists because of some issues I was having with itunes. Thanks to Spotify however I am back!!!Here it is! Click below to listen to the songs via Facebook/Spotify.

“Sweaty Vinyasa” Music For Yoga”

The Buddha Bar  Blue Tribe

Overcome (Accapella Mix) Tricky

Come Home Little Dragon

Keep It Rollin Y LUV

This world  Selah Sue

Raggamuffin  Selah Sue

Dreams of Fish and Waterfalls  Oliver Tank

Desperately Faithless Blue Metheny

Enigmatic Encounter  ATB & Enigma

Lonely Boy  The Black Keys

There’s Something Wrong Brad Sucks

Akwaba  Tya

True Affection The Blow

Timshel (Zoo Session) Mumford & Sons

Om Prana Rara Avis

Yoga Video Inspiration: Amazing Transitions with Krista Cahill

July 23, 2012

kukhahnyoga Videos, Yoga , , Leave a comment

Need a little extra inspiration to unroll your yoga mat?

Look no further!

 Watch this inspirational yoga video of my good friend and yoga teacher Krista Cahill tackle some very challenging yoga transitions….perhaps even more incredibly she manages to make them look easy!
Watch as she goes from Crow Pose to Handstand Scorpion and then drops onto her forearms for Forearm Scorpion and then whips her feet back into Chaturanga.
Enjoy!
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Your Hands In Handstand: 7 Easy Tips For Better Handstands!

May 30, 2012

kukhahnyoga How To Tips & Tricks, Yoga Articles , , 1 Comment

When it comes to handstand there is no better place to start than your hands!

Sure, it seems pretty obvious. However the hands are sometimes an afterthought for students whose minds are preoccupied with trying to get their bottom to float above their head.

For the frequent flyer however (see inspiring photo to your left of my teacher Krista Cahill by the incredible photographer Jasper Johal) the hands and wrists always come first when attempting handstand!

Like anything, it’s best to start at the bottom and work up. In this case the foundation is your hands and like any good foundation it must be laid properly.

The worst possible news for a house is having cracks in its foundation and the worst news for a handstand are poorly positioned hands. (A close second is a poorly positioned attitude, actually a bad attitude is worse…but I digress)

At any rate you are headed for trouble fast if you don’t get your digits and palms properly set up, so listen close future flyers!

Tips For Your Hands in Handstand

  1. Place your hands shoulders width apart with your hands slightly turned out.
  2. Spread your fingers wide apart. Reach the fingers forward and apart to spread the weight evenly. Uneven weight causes problems for the wrist. Your fingers should spread evenly away from the palm like the spokes on a wagon wheel.
  3. Pay special attention to your index finger and thumb rooting down into the mat.
  4. Then with your hands firmly planted on your sticky mat try to squeeze them towards one another like you are trying to wrinkle your mat between your hands. The mat will not actually wrinkle  but this action engages the muscles of the hands, forearms and biceps creating stability.
  5. Push into your hands! Trust that they will hold the weight of your body. (Be mindful however not to push out of your shoulders, keep your collarbones wide and your shoulder blades firmly planted on your upper back! More about that later)
  6. Do not let the wrists lift! As you jump from the back of the mat it’s tough not to let the wrists lift, but do your best. I took a workshop with master ashtangi David Swenson and he kept saying over and over again to “put the weight in your hands”. This is key! Imagine your hands are cemented to the floor, make them super heavy as you practice jumping into handstand!
  7. Grip with your fingertips. Think of them as your emergency brakes. These little guys will help you not to “Go flying over the handlebars” as my teacher Brock Cahill likes to say. (Your primary brakes are your core and serratus anterior muscle. Secondary are your forearms and fingertips.)

Happy Handstanding Yogis!

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Angela Kukhahn and Aimee Donahue’s Ojai Yoga Retreat July 20th-22nd 2012

May 18, 2012

kukhahnyoga Events, Retreats & Workshops, Yoga , Leave a comment

Angela Kukhahn and Aimee Donahue’s Ojai Yoga Retreat July 20th-22nd 2012

Hi Yogis,

Thanks for your interest in joining Aimee Donahue and Angela Kukhahn  (Friday) July 20th-22nd (Sunday) for a memorable 2 nights and 3 days in Ojai at a stunningly beautiful, 52-acre Eco Sanctuary. The main house, an architecturally significant Craftsman Style property, is picturesque, comfortable and relaxing. The land overlooks Ojai and features mango, lemon and orange trees, a big ceremonial fire circle, hiking trails, a large oval pool and a Jacuzzi. The large free-standing yoga studio features huge east-facing picture windows with a breathtaking view and a dark wood floor.

There will be a yoga class on Friday, 2 classes on Saturday and a final class on Sunday morning. Each class will be two hours. Delicious vegetarian food is provided at all meals and there will be plenty of time to hike, swim, read or just plain relax.

Please see below for the inclusive prices based on your room choice. Cost per person includes lodging for 3 days and 2 nights, all meals, all classes and events. All lodging is first come first served. Single spaces are available for an additional fee. There is a variety of accommodations and the retreat fee is based, in part, on the type of accommodation that you pick.

Deposit:
A non-refundable $200 deposit will hold your space and can be paid via PayPal by clicking HERE. All Major credit cards accepted.To reserve your room please email Jamie at  jhaddad31@gmail.com
or call her at (661) 713-2619.

The retreat center can accommodate 20 people in the main house and 22 people in the yurts, tea houses and cottage on the estate. All pricing listed below is per person. here is a description of the accommodations:
Please Note: Early Prices = Before 5/31/2012 Late Prices = After 5/31/2012

Estate Dwellings: 

Yurts – dorm-style accommodation with a shared bath
* Vista Yurt  – sleeps 4
* Yoga/Amrita Yurt  – sleeps 8
Early $595 Late $610
Tea Houses – enclosed outdoor sleeping space built on stilts with use of        bathroom in main house, amazing morning view, privacy and electricity
* Orange Zen Tea House – 2 single beds
* Mango Zen Tea House – 2 single beds
* Stage Tea House – 2 single beds
Early $675 Late $695
* Oak Tea House – Queen and one single bed (suitable for a couple or three  friends – $25 off on the third person)
Early $645 Late $665
Studios
* Apiary Studio – Private Shower
One King bed and One Single (Sleeps 2 or 3)
Early $755 Late $775
* Artist’s Studio - Private Bathroom
One King Bed, sleeps 2 (secluded and private)
Early $755 Late $775
Main House Rooms and Sleeping Porches
* The Kinder Room - upstairs, sleeps 3
Early $705 Late $725
* Sleeping Porch off Kinder Room  – 2 beds
Early $655 Late $670
* State Room – first floor, private bath. 3 single beds
Early $705 Late $725
* Chumash Room – first floor, shared bath. 3 single beds
Early $735 Late $755
* Sleeping Porch off Chumash Room. 2 beds
Early $655 Late $670
* Alaya Room – upstairs, shared bath. 3 beds
Early $735 Late $755
* Alaya Sleeping Porch – shared bath. 2 beds
Early $655 Late $670
* Anahata Room – first floor, private bath. One queen bed.
Early $760 Late $780

We look forward to seeing you there!
Angela & Aimee’

Register Now!

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Yoga Inversions Pre-Flight Warmup

May 18, 2012

kukhahnyoga How To Tips & Tricks, Yoga Articles , , 2 Comments

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”
― Leonardo da Vinci

The Pre-Inversion Warmup

Before practicing inversions it is essential you warmup and stretch the muscles you will be using.
Your best bet if you are practicing at home is to warm up with a few Surya A’s, Surya B’s and then do a few of my favorite pre-flight stretches and strength building postures listed below.
Happy flying yogis!
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Dolphin Pose Variation – The Dynamic Duo External Rotation and Strong Forearms!

April 5, 2012

kukhahnyoga Inversions, Yoga , , , Leave a comment

Learn how to externally rotate your arms and strengthen your forearms in this amazing dolphin pose variation by Jill Miller.

Two essentials for yoga inversions are external rotation of the arm bones forearm strength.

External rotation is the thing that allows you to take the training wheels off and start flying. It connects your shoulder girdle to your core via your Serratus anterior muscle.

The Serratus is a badass muscle that lives underneath you underarm  and wraps your front body to your back body. Hiding from plain view like a ninja shrouded by darkness this muscle doesn’t get noticed.

Until now…(cue dramatic music…)

To my delight this variation on dolphin pose addresses both of those issues!

On top of all that it also feels delicious in its ability to solidify the shoulders onto the upper back. It feels sturdy. Always a good thing when you plan to balance upon them.

I owe this genius photo and pose to Jill Miller of Yoga Tune Up. I found this in a wonderful article of hers on wrist health. To read the original article click HERE.

Dolphin Pose with Palms Facing Up

a) Rest forearms on a yoga mat, and place a yoga block in between the wrists along the pinky side of hands.

b) Pike the hips upwards, forming an upside down “V” shape with the body (bend the knees if the hamstrings are very tight).

c) Attempt to press the thumb side of the hand into the floor, and feel the traction and stretch deeply within the muscles of the forearms as the spine extends away from the rooted forearms.

(Item D is my addition to Jill’s amazing instruction)

d) Prepare for world domination now that you have the mighty Serratus holding your shoulders on your upper back like superman’s cape!

New Yoga Video: Big Beautiful Backbends With Briohny Smyth

March 28, 2012

kukhahnyoga Inversions, Yoga , , , , Leave a comment

Love Briohny Smyth?

Good.

Me too!

I thought I’d share yet another beautifully made and meticulously produced video of her by Equinox Fitness.

I think is pretty inspiring, and hope it gives you another reason to unroll your mat today and dive into your yoga practice!

What’s cool about this one is you get to hear her voice as she lays down some yoga wisdom on backbending. I personally love backbending and love to inspire my students to pursue the bigger backbends with enthusiasim snd a healthy dose of caution and patience.

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My Love Affair With Yoga: How Yoga is Like a Long Term Relationship

March 26, 2012

kukhahnyoga Yoga , , , , 2 Comments

Yoga and  I  are in a long-term relationship. It is one that I am continually finding new reasons to fall in love over, and over and over again! It’s spicy! I love that it isn’t just down dog and warrior two. Even if those may have been the reasons I fell in love with it in the first place.

No, it’s mysterious. Dangerous! Even more than a hint naughty!

Just when things are threatening to get a bit stale, it surprises me. Sometimes it’s a nuance in the way to place my hands on my mat. Other times, it’s floating into scorpion handstand from the back of my mat. It keeps my interest piqued and coming back for more.

Oh sure, there are days I am so frustrated I want to swear it off all together! We have our fights. No relationship is entirely drama free. I don’t always get my way. I pout. I lay blame where it doesn’t belong. It’s the poses fault I can’t do them. Perhaps I’ll just ignore certain poses as a way of “getting back at them”. Of course we make up and I realize it’s not anyones fault. Relationships are just hard work. Gaining deeper understanding requires a lot of work, time and patience. Patience I don’t always have. It also provides a mirror. One I don’t always want to look into.

Yoga often offers me well meaning yet unsolicited advice. I sometimes feel its being bossy. I don’t appreciate being told what to do. I’m not proud to say that I ignored a lot of it on good days. On bad days, I even did things out of spite! (Oh, I should take it easy today you say?! Well, maybe I will practice twice today….take that! I can do whatever I well please!) I usually come around and realize that yoga does really have my back and is just trying to look out for me. I feel lucky to have it in my life. It seems to know what I need before I do. It brings to my attention that which I would otherwise miss.

However, regardless of the hard work, the ups and downs, and disagreements nothing soothes me like those first few ujjayi breaths in down dog. I am suddenly home. This is love.

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